BASEBALL: Aggies smack Yale around the yard, win series 3-1

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (CBS4) – Thanks to a combined 19 hits by Aggie batters on Sunday, the New Mexico State baseball team powered past Yale 18-5 at Presley Askew Field to take the series 3-1.

The win also gave NM State its second-straight series victory. The last NM State won back-to-back series was in 2014 when it took 3-of-4 from Saint Mary’s and SIUE to start the season.

The visiting Bulldogs (1-3) drew first blood on the day, getting back-to-back knocks to left before scoring one on a wild pitch from NM State starter Marcel Renteria (2-0, 3.14 ERA).

However, the Aggies (9-5) came out swinging in their half of the first inning and pounded Yale for 10 runs and nearly batted around the order twice.

It would be nearly 40 minutes later before Renteria returned to the hill to pitch the second inning – which didn’t last long thanks to a 4-6-3 double-play.

Tristen Carranza made it 13-1 in favor of the good guys in the third when he launched Kumar Nambiar’s pitch towards left center.

Renteria continued to pitch masterfully until the sixth. The Nogales, Ariz., allowed Yale’s lead-off batter to double after a 10-pitch at-bat before Griffin Dey sent the first pitch he saw over the centerfield wall.

The Aggies didn’t take their foot off the pedal as it put up runs in the final four innings of play – including a 2-run jack that Carranza crushed in the seventh inning. The Bulldogs would get two more in the top of the eight, but it was of no consequence as NM State claimed the 18-5 victory at home.

Renteria picked up his second win of the season, giving up just three runs, two earned, on nine hits with a walk while fanning eight.

------------

By the Numbers

NM State outscored Yale 42-16 in the four-game series and had 52 hits – 17 of which were extra-base hits…the Aggies have outslugged the Bulldogs 16-2 in the first inning while also doing damage in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, respectively, combining to outscore Yale 19-9…batters 4-7 for NM State combined for 10 hits, 11 runs, and seven RBI for NM State.

Up Next

New Mexico State will host a midweek game against Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico on Tuesday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Southwest University Ballpark, home of the San Diego Padres Triple-A Affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12-and-under. Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Pan American Center box office at 575-646-1420.